Feeling lethargic for no reason? Having problems like dry skin, drastic weight changes and irregular bowel patterns? If so, you could have a thyroid problem.
Your thyroid is arguably the most important gland in your body. Located below your larynx or voice box and above your collarbone, the thyroid gland secretes hormones that affect almost all your organs. That's why signs and symptoms of thyroid problems manifest all over your body, rather than in just one area.
To improve your thyroid function, or to keep it functioning optimally, try these foods on for size.
Seaweed
Take it from the Japanese: Seaweed is one of the richest sources of iodine, a mineral crucial to the proper functioning of your thyroid. Without iodine, you risk goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), and cognitive impairment in your fetus if you're pregnant.
You can buy edible seaweed like kelp, wakame and nori from most Asian markets, or order it online. Be careful not to consume too much of this food, though: Too much iodine can be just as bad for you as not enough of it.
Aside from iodine, seaweed also contains vitamin A, vitamin C and calcium. Since these aren't as abundant in seaweed as iodine, however, it's better to look for richer, more accessible sources of the aforementioned vitamins and minerals.
Seafood
Luckily, seaweed isn't the only seafood rich in iodine. In fact, if a food comes from the sea, chances are it's rich in the mineral that keeps your thyroid in good shape.
For example, cod contains 99 micrograms of iodine, which is already two-thirds of the recommended amount of iodine you should consume every day. There's also shrimp (35 micrograms of iodine per three-ounce serving), tuna (17 micrograms for the canned version) and lobster (an incredible 100 micrograms per 100-gram serving). Most of these are low-calorie, so you can add them to your diet minus the guilt.
Dairy Products
Don't have a seafood market near you? No worries. You can still grab your daily dose of iodine from the dairy section of your supermarket. When researchers conducted a study on U.S. children in 2013, they found a positive link between the children's dairy intake and their body's iodine levels.
But if you're concerned about the amount of calories from most dairy products, you can opt for healthier alternatives like yogurt. Aside from being light and convenient to eat, yogurt packs a whopping 58 percent of the recommended daily iodine intake into every cup.
Beans
If you want a healthy source of iodine that isn't seafood, beans are a good option. Navy beans contain 32 micrograms of iodine (21 percent of the recommended daily iodine intake), while green or string beans have 3 micrograms of iodine (2 percent of the recommended daily iodine intake). You can mix these up with other foods to make them more palatable.
Other rich and healthy sources of iodine include cranberries, strawberries, almonds and dark green leafy vegetables. If you want to add anything else to this list, or if you have other thoughts about this post, please let us know in the comments below, or share via Facebook.
Sources:
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